Child sex exploitation offenders arrested in INTERPOL-led operation

INTERPOL on March 7, 2012 released the following:

“Southeast Asia focus of global fugitive investigations

LYON, France – An INTERPOL coordinated operation targeting people suspected or convicted of travelling to Southeast Asia to sexually abuse children has resulted in the arrest and/or location of 20 individuals.

“There is no safe haven for wanted sex offenders and Operation Infra-SEA is a reminder to those who believe that travelling to the other side of the world to commit child sex abuse will help them avoid detection are very much mistaken,” said Ervin Prenci, Infra – SEA Project Manager.

“By bringing together investigators from the countries involved to share specific intelligence about these criminals, Operation Infra-SEA shows the significant results which can be achieved in identifying, locating and arresting offenders, as we have seen with previous Infra operations,” added Mr Prenci.

Coordinated by INTERPOL’s Fugitive Investigative Support unit, the series of Infra operations are among the key initiatives of the world police body in supporting member countries in locating and arresting international fugitives.

In 2010, Operation Infra-Red (Red Notices) targeting 450 fugitives convicted or accused of serious crimes including murder, rape and drug trafficking resulted in more than a quarter being arrested or located, and new information provided on 357 of the cases. Operation Infra-SA (South America) in 2011 led to arrests across the continent, with more than 30 fugitives taken into custody in less than a month.

“Each of these Infra operations is a clear signal to fugitives who may have thought their offence was committed too long ago, or too far away, that this is not the case, and that they will be brought to justice,” added Stefano Carvelli, Assistant Director of INTERPOL ‘s Fugitive Investigative Support Unit.

Additional support to Operation Infra-SEA was provided through Project Childhood, a joint INTERPOL, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and World Vision initiative funded by the Government of Australia’s AusAID programme aimed at combating the sexual exploitation of children in the Greater Mekong sub-region.

With the conclusion of the first part of the operation, Infra-SEA now moves into the second stage of more focused intelligence and information analysis in order to locate and arrest the remaining fugitives.”

Douglas McNabb and other members of the U.S. law firm practice and write and/or report extensively on matters involving Federal Criminal Defense, INTERPOL Red Notice Removal, International Extradition and OFAC SDN Sanctions Removal.

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